Means for removing condensate from steam-heated rollers



April 16, 1929. G. s. JOHNSON KEANS PQR REIOVING CONDENSATE FROMSTEAM.HEATED ROLLERS Filed July 21. 1926 WANN..

.:IIII .mw NN .NN QN NN w/ lli w Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNlTED'sTATEs 1,709,581, PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SHEPARD JOHNSON, OF'MAIJISON,.WSCONSI`[ N, ASSIGNOR TO C. pF.BURGESS LABORATORIES, INC.,` OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION,OFMDe-LLA'WARE.

MEANS FOR REMOVING CONDENSATE STEAM-HEATED ROLLER/S.

Application filed .Tuly- 21,

This invention relates to improvements in means for removing condensatefrom steam vheated rollers. Such rollersor rolls are used in variousarts, for example, in the paper 1ndustry in which the web is dried as ittravels in Contact with a series of rolls of fairly large diameter. Therolls Vare steam tight, the steam being admitted through the hollowjournals.y In starting the operation, whenthe rolls are cold, the steamcondenses rapidly, resulting in the immediate accumulation of aconsiderable amount of water in the roll, which condensate may beaugmented during the continued operation of the rolls, depending onk thepressure and temperature maintained within the same. Itis necessary towithdraw this condensate through the hollow journal, an operation whichin some cases could not be performed when the rolls were stationary andin other cases, was unsatisfactory for other reasons, including slow anduneven heating. y l j The general object of this invention is to provideimproved means for removing said condensate through the journal in sucha way thatthe roll heats'up quickly and maintains a more eventemperature.

Other objects are to provide a device of this character which will drainthe roll of water whether said roll is stationary or rotating; whichwill prevent steam from blowing out after most of the water has beendrained therefrom; and which if suctionV is used to withdraw said'waterwill not operate so as to cause the suction to break.

An additional object -is to provide means j whereby said device may bereadily reached for inspection, renewal and repair. j

In the drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a roll. and its appurtenances.

F ig. 2 is an end elevation thereof onI a smaller scale. n

Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional elevation of a trap, including aneedle-valve operated by a float. f

Fig. 4 is ahorizontal section through the hollow journal of said roll.

The roll illustrated in the drawings is one such as is used in the paperindustry, although the invention is not limited to this art. Said rollcomprises a cylindrical metal shell 10 having end plates or heads 11secured thereto, the structure thus formed being rotatably arm ispivotedatQG to a bracket 27 192e. serial No. V122,911.

supportedby journals,l 12, 13, which turnin i I suitable bearings, notshown. Steam for heating the roll is supplied through a stationarystructure'. which is held against an eXtension 14 on the end of thehollow yjournal 13 in the usual manneigforming no part of the present'Water of condensation is removed through a passageway 16, formed in thesame member 17 which contains the steam passageway l5,

said member forming aclosure for thel adjacent seaininlet chamber. Apipe-18 is arranged preferably coincident with the axis,

of rotation of said cylinder,.extending from the inner wall of thepassageway 16 intofthe cylinder and then curving downwardly andterminating nearthe lowest part of the cylinder and preferably near theopposite end of said cylinder. Said pipe may be supported further by askeleton frame or spider 19 mounted thereon and restingon thecylindrical innerwall ofthe hollow journal 413. The end of said shaftmay be provided with a coupling 20 which receives a screw threaded plug2l constituting an adjustable valve seat and having an opening 22 whichreceives a needle valve 23, the latter being pivoted at one end to aprojection 24 on an arm 25. Said l carried by the coupling 20. The freeend of said arm 25 carries a float- 28vconsisting of a hollow structureof any suitable configuration.

The arrangement is such that the weight of the parts maintains theneedle valve closed when said parts are in normal position, as Shown inFig. 3. W'hen said float 28 is raised by being submerged in the Vwatercondensing in the cylindrical roll 10, said needle valve is withdrawnfrom its seat, somewhat as shown in dotted line position in said ligure.The parts are so proportioned that the lloat is not raised until afterthe water level is above saidneedle valve, thus preventing waste ofsteam lwhich would otherwise blow out through said pipe 18. When thevalve is submerged and opened, the pressure of the steam on the surfaceof the .water will force the latter through said valve and through theoutlet pipe 16, reducingv the level lto approximately that of the needlevalve, orr preferably elightly above it, by which time the float hasdescended suti'iciently to close said valve. Under these circumstances,it will be seen that Waterremaining in said roller is comparativelyshallow in depth, and therefore islnot very effective as a non-conductorof heat between the hot interior of the roll and the web in Contact Withthe outer surface.

The device operates effectively Whether the rolls are stationary orrotating. Then the rolls are rotating, as suggested by the arrow in Fig.2, the surface of the Water is not horizontal, but assumes somewhat ofan incline (see dotted line), depending on the speed o'tl rotation,since the Water adheres to the inner surface of the roller. Therefore,the trap, consisting of the needleV valve and associated partsheretot'ore described, may be oset a little with reference to thevertical plane passing through the axis of rotation of said roll, ifdesired, although normally it would be located at the lowest pointWithin said cylindrical chamber and preferably remote from the steaminlet in a region Wherethe initial condensation is most rapid;

` By maintaining the level of the condensate at as low a .point aspossible at the outset, the

roll heats up quickly and the heat is evenly distributed When the rollsis in operation.

It suction is applied to the Outlet pipe, said suction is never brokenas the valve is open only When it is submerged.

The steam trapV may be readily installed or removed for inspection Or`adjustment through the hand-hole 29 after removing the cover-plate 30.

I claim as lny invention:

A device of the class described, adapted to be mountedfin closeproximity to the bot-tom upwardly for moving the needlevalve to openposition.

In testimony whereof', I have subscribedV Illy D 21H18.

GEORGE SHEPARD JOHNSON.

